Conquering Compulsive Overeating With Raw Foods

Compulsive overeating, or what some call gluttony, is generally characterized by the following:
-Eating a considerable quantity of food,
-Eating too quickly,
-Feeling of a lack of control over the eating process,
-Felling hunger whether or not one has just eaten,
-Always trying to eat alone or otherwise hiding how much one has eaten,
-Continuing to eat even when already feeling very full,
-Feeling guilty after any of the above,
-Incessant snacking.

People suffering from gluttony often carry excess weight and sometimes obesity; however, this is not always the case. Like other sufferers of food frustration disorders (e.g., anorexia, bulimia), compulsive overeaters may feel low self esteem and have sensations of lack of control over various life events. It appears that at least half of the people dealing with compulsive overeating often feel down and have bouts of depression. They will notice that they begin to compulsively overeat whenever their mood changes, especially when they experience negative emotions, such as irritation, rage, grief, frustration, but they may also overeat when they feel excitement.

People who convulsively overeat often experience stress, have difficulty sleeping and more propensity for suicidal thoughts. Besides the obvious esthetic consequences, repetitive overeating causes the body to work constantly, with very little rest. This can result in various illnesses connected to excess fat, cardiovascular diseases, illnesses of the metabolism, heightened risk of diabetes, and other diseases.

Today, the medical community suggests treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy and support groups to help regulate the emotions of the sufferer and to help him or her change their reaction to stressful situations. Physical exercise is also recommended as well as a dietary change. Doctors may prescribe various uppers to energize the overeater, sometimes with other medication to reduce emotional flashes. Overeaters who are also severely overweight may resort to surgical intervention to remove superfluous fat. While this temporarily reduced body weight, it is no panacea for their problem because the weight invariably comes back if their mental issues are not dealt with and they continue the same dietary lifestyle.

Having dealt with the mental side of things, it is also important to observe the kinds of food one eats. The raw food diet, one which consists of eating solely raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, in the most natural way deals with compulsive overeating. Weight loss is almost automatic when you eat raw foods. By eating natural raw food you allow your body to reach its ideal weight. Unlike heavily processed, fried and otherwise cooked foods, a raw food lifestyle does not cause cravings and gradually can help you eliminate your food addictions. However, switching to the raw food diet (a.k.a. raw vegan diet) should be done in a gradual manner, especially if one suffers from compulsive overeating. There are many web resources which provide more information on overcoming overeating with raw foods. Three I particularly like are: http://www.beautifulonraw.com, http://rawfoodme.wordpress.com, and http://kaboodle.com/rawfood.

Beginning and sticking to a fitness routine can do wonders for a recovering overeater because not only does it help shed excess weight, but also will alleviate stress and uneasiness. I believe Bikram Yoga (a type of yoga you practice in a heated room) is one of the best exercise routines to begin especially if you are 30 or older because unlike many other forms of exercise, hot yoga does not stress your joints. Moreover, yoga is a non-confrontational type of exercise: You are not competing against anyone, and the practice has a strong element of staying centered and calm, which also helps resolve any mental blocks that may keep you from getting rid of compulsive overeating.